Reading Aloud Can Be a Memory Booster

Canadian researchers asked 95 people to remember written information in four different ways: reading the information silently; hearing someone else read it; listening to a recording of themselves reading it, and reading it aloud.

Reading out loud proved to be the best way to remember the information, the study found. That "confirms that learning and memory benefit from active involvement," study co-author Colin MacLeod said in a news release from the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He's chair of the university's psychology department.

"When we add an active measure or a production element to a word, that word becomes more distinct in long-term memory, and hence more memorable," he said. MacLeod's earlier research involved how writing and typing words enhanced memory retention.

As for the "practical applications of this research," MacLeod said, "I think of seniors who are advised to do puzzles and crosswords to help strengthen their memory.

"This study suggests that the idea of action or activity also improves memory," he said. That adds to existing knowledge that "regular exercise and movement are also strong building blocks for a good memory," he added.